11-year-old child killed by ‘ginsok’ shot to the head
A 11‑year‑old boy died after being shot in the head at a rubber‑plantation hut in Kampung Mampulut, Sook, Keningau, on Saturday, police said.
Source: Sinar Harian · October 12, 2026 at 12:02 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-source
KAMPUNG MAMPULUT, SOOK, KENINGAU, 12 OCTOBER 2026 —
A 11‑year‑old boy died after being shot in the head at a rubber‑plantation hut in Kampung Mampulut, Sook, Keningau, on Saturday, police said.
Market Impact
Superintenden Erwansyah Abdul Basir, the Keningau district police chief, said his unit received the first report of the incident at 2.35 p.m. The child and another youngster were inside the hut when a single gunshot struck the boy’s head, investigators said. The wound was identified as caused by a homemade firearm known locally as a “ginsok,” according to a police statement released on Monday.
The victim was rushed to Keningau Hospital for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead. A post‑mortem examination at Hospital Queen Elizabeth in Kota Kinabalu confirmed that the cause of death was the head injury from the gunshot.
The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(α) of the Children Act 2001, which deals with neglect and exposure of children to injury, and under Section 8(A) of the Arms Act 1960, which concerns possession, custody or control of firearms without a licence or permit.
Police said the investigation is focused on how the improvised weapon was obtained, stored and handled before the shooting. Forensic and ballistic examinations are being carried out to determine the firing mechanism and to link the suspected ginsok to the injuries sustained by the boy. Authorities are also probing the illegal possession of unlicensed firearms and any possible negligence that exposed the children to danger.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the availability of homemade firearms in rural Sabah and the risk they pose to vulnerable populations, especially children. Under Malaysian law, the illegal manufacture and use of such weapons can attract severe penalties, and the involvement of a minor intensifies scrutiny under child‑protection statutes.
Erwansyah said the police will continue to trace the source of the weapon and identify any individuals responsible for its possession or use. The investigation remains open, with further forensic results expected to clarify the circumstances of the shooting and inform any subsequent legal action.
Related: Keningau Hospital · Kampung Mampulut, Sook, Keningau